Thursday, July 02, 2009
"Unknown Lifeform in North Carolina Sewer!" the latest viral video to hit the intertubes sounds like the title of a B-movie (you can read the initial account here) but Gizmodo, the gadget blog, finally posted a report about the findings as released by DeepSeaNews.com who sent the video to Dr. Timothy S. Wood (an expert on freshwater bryozoa and an officer with the International Bryozoology Association) who had this to say, to quell the panic:
Thanks for the video – I had not see it before. No, these are not bryozoans! They are clumps of annelid worms, almost certainly tubificids (Naididae, probably genus Tubifex). Normally these occur in soil and sediment, especially at the bottom and edges of polluted streams. In the photo they have apparently entered a pipeline somehow, and in the absence of soil they are coiling around each other. The contractions you see are the result of a single worm contracting and then stimulating all the others to do the same almost simultaneously, so it looks like a single big muscle contracting. Interesting video.
Ok, so they're Tubifex worms (said to inhabit organically polluted waters). But what if it's a ruse? What if it's really one growing mass of unknown lifeform that escaped the government's clutches? When will we start calling Mulder and Scully?!
Labels: awesome, cool, curios, discovery, nature, new, uh-huh
@ 1:10 PM ---> Wednesday, July 01, 2009
This one came as a surprise for me seeing our own Filipino folklore reaching halfway across the globe and starring as the main monster in a UK/South African production horror movie. While it features one of the coolest actors evar, Billy Zane, it also stars veteran actor, Joel Torre, who also gives a bit of background in this blog. Check out their facebook page, be a fan or something. Will post my thoughts about the impact of this movie in a post later.
Labels: awesome, curios, entertainment, movies
Monday, June 29, 2009
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Interesting debate between FOX News commentator, Bill O'Reilly, and Salon.com editor, Joan Walsh, regarding late term abortionist, Dr. George Tiller. Watch it and then decide for yourself where you stand on this issue.
* Unfortunately since he was gunned down last May 31 Dr. Tiller's website has been indefinitely down but you can read more about Dr. Tiller here.
Labels: aaahh, curios, discovery, events, interview, news, sad news
Monday, April 27, 2009
KOMIKON SUMMER FIESTA 2009
UP Bahay ng Alumni, UP Diliman
May 16, 2009, 10am-8pm, Saturday
entrance fee: P50.00
with Special Guests...
Wilson Tortosa (Wolverine: Prodigal Son) and Manix Abrera (kikomachine)
Join our PALARONG PINOY including our first ever "KOMIKON IDOL"!!! (para sa mga mahihilig bumirit)
see you all there!!!
Labels: aha, art related, awesome, comics, comics related, cool, entertainment, events, feast, happy gathering, launching
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Posted below is a copy of the letter the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) sent to the UP Dean of Physics regarding the incident with JC Candare and the kitten he killed:
Here's the reply PAWS got for the above
Response from UP College of Science Dean RE: Joseph Candare
Hope he learns his lesson and really reforms from his old ways. What I'd wish and really want right now is for me to read an article one day with his name championing the cause of animal rights.
Here's the reply PAWS got for the above
Response from UP College of Science Dean RE: Joseph Candare
From: Caesar Saloma
Subject: From Caesar Saloma/20 April 2009/Mr Candare
Date: Monday, 20 April, 2009, 6:56 PM
20 April 2009
Ms. Nita Hontiveros-Lichauco
President
The Philippine Animal Welfare Society, Inc
New Manila, Quezon City
Dear Ms. Hontiveros-Lichauco :
This is to acknowledge the receipt today of your letter dated 17 April 2009 concerning Mr Joseph Carlo Candare who made an entry in his blog that he killed a cat in a manner that is pathetic, appalling and worrisome.
The College of Science (CS) does not tolerate the cruel treatment of animals by any of its scientist, researchers and students. Mr Candare is a BS Applied Physics student of the National Institute of Physics (NIP) which is one of the eleven constituent units of CS (www.science. upd.edu.ph).
I will ask the NIP Director, Dr Arnel Salvador to meet with Mr Candare and to demand an explanation about the acts that he mentioned in his blog. The NIP will make a recommendation to my office about the possible action(s) that can be taken against Mr Candare according to existing University rules and regulations.
I assure you that the Office of the CS Dean will handle your serious concern promptly.
Maraming salamat po.
Sincerely yours,
Caesar Saloma
–
Caesar Saloma, PhD
Professor, National Institute of Physics
Dean, College of Science
University of the Philippines
Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines
Hope he learns his lesson and really reforms from his old ways. What I'd wish and really want right now is for me to read an article one day with his name championing the cause of animal rights.
Labels: cats, discovery, embarrassment, events, kittens, sad news
Friday, April 17, 2009
The young cat killer posted an apology today in his blog about the (now deleted) incident he was so proud of:
Here's one reaction from the Cats' Lair group whom I'm a member of and I agree with:
Posting reactions on his blog would only invite more laughter and derision from him and his friends (which you can see in the comments below the so called apology). Better bring this incident to the attention of the proper authorities.
* I edited the post to delete some comments I made making fun of his apology and against his person. The apology may be sincere and I'd like to leave it at that. The boy certainly needs help and making fun of him online won't do anything constructive. I just hope he rightly responds to therapy and that good people surround him and influence him toward a better life.
By the way, someone sent this picture in the mail of the kitten he carelessly killed.
Here's one reaction from the Cats' Lair group whom I'm a member of and I agree with:
Everyone,
All we need to do is get this guy expelled from UP, please write to: The NIPS Dean and the College Disciplinary Committee. This guy needs a police record and psych counseling stat.
NIPs is the National Institute of Physics? If this guy graduates from UP or anywhere in the country, he'll be a physicist with psycho-sado terrorist tendencies. Imagine him in a lab with a laser and a cat victim-to-be.
2009 Code of Conduct
http://www.science.upd.edu.ph/nip/images/pdfs/draft%20-% 202009%20student%20code%20of% 20conduct.pdf
Would like to complain on Section 1.3 Harm (Section 1. Acts of Misconduct and Sanctions for Students) but descriptions don't apply (harm to persons or things), kitty abuse and murder neither person nor thing, unless you can make "future potential harm to persons" stick.
Found this, pg.21 of 83:
Acts of Misconduct
e. Engaging in disgraceful conduct within University premises;
Sanctions
Admonition to expulsion. The student may be advised to undergo counseling.
Section 1.6. Any other form of Misconduct
Acts of Misconduct
Engaging in any other form of misconduct, whether within or outside
University premises, which affects the good order and welfare and/or good
name of the University.
Sanctions
Admonition to expulsion.
pp. 39 of 83
http://www.science.upd.edu.ph/nip/images/pdfs/draft%20-% 202009%20student%20code%20of% 20conduct.pdf
Section 1. Disciplinary Bodies
There are three (3) disciplinary bodies in the University: the Student
Disciplinary Council (SDC), the College Disciplinary Committee (CDC) and the
Inter-College Disciplinary Committee (ICDC).
What if he bores of cat murder and gets aggressive with people? Does UP Diliman want to give him powerful science skills to use against living things?
Posting reactions on his blog would only invite more laughter and derision from him and his friends (which you can see in the comments below the so called apology). Better bring this incident to the attention of the proper authorities.
* I edited the post to delete some comments I made making fun of his apology and against his person. The apology may be sincere and I'd like to leave it at that. The boy certainly needs help and making fun of him online won't do anything constructive. I just hope he rightly responds to therapy and that good people surround him and influence him toward a better life.
By the way, someone sent this picture in the mail of the kitten he carelessly killed.
